Iss frowned subconsciously. He doesn't like to be rejected, let alone rejected...... It's ridiculously naïve.

This time, however, Ed didn't back down. He glared at him, his jaw tense and menacing as if he was about to punch him - something he had never seen before.

That rare, sudden burst of anger finally made Iss react, and when he went against the nature of a dragon and said, "I can teach you", he actually chose to give up...... Give up struggling and accept the obvious future.

After all, they can't fight side by side to the end.

And Ed, who realized this instantly, didn't he harbor the same fear?

But even though he almost died, he still refused to give up.

"Whatever you want. Iss said, his deliberately deep tone not as cold as he had hoped...... or carelessly, but with a hint of imperceptible panic.

Ed was silent. The strength held up by anger could not last long, but he could no longer collapse his shoulders in frustration and admit his weakness and incompetence, nor could he force a smile and cover up the thorns and cliffs with false hopes.

He could no longer stand still and wait for someone to tell him what to do...... Or give him a hard push, because he is not the only one who will wander helplessly in the fog.

“...... The bone. ”

There was silence for too long, and Ed's tongue was almost stiff when he spoke, "Do you have it?"

Silently, Iss pulled out the broken bone and threw it to him without the slightest hesitation—even though he knew now that it was his real name engraved on it...... The only one who could pronounce it was his friend.

Ed's hand shook involuntarily as he caught the bone, and his scalp tingled as he thought of it burrowing into Tyliner's bloody palm as if it had life, and Tyliner's face twisted in fear and despair.

Yes, he already knew that this was the piece...... But it lay quietly in the palm of his hand, with a slight coolness, and it felt neither like dry bones nor stones, but more like dragon scales.

“...... It's just a container. ”

He looked down at the symbol on the broken bone—a pale shade of blue, two slightly curved lines stretched symmetrically to either side, like raised wings.

"Different forces give it different attributes...... It's like a gem infused with magical power. ”

"Better than gems. Iss admitted," ...... Much better. ”

"If it's ......," Ed muttered, "what they dug in the Sidney Basin, and what Scott took from the pits in Balach, could it be too?"

“...... What the hell are you trying to say?" said Iss, frowning.

Ed shook his head a little dazedly: "I don't know...... I just feel like if it could be changed......"

He had a strange idea, but it was hard to prove.

- It's difficult, but it's not completely impossible.

"I need to go to the Sidney Temple. He said, "I'll have to look at that so-called 'God Bone.'" ”

He was pretty sure it wasn't Travis's words, "the remains of Nesses" — all that was left of Nesses' remains was a fraction of what he had left.

In fact, it doesn't matter whose bones it was, what matters is ...... Is there another symbol on it?

At the moment, he regretted that he hadn't found a chance to take a look at it when he was in the Temple of Sidney half a year ago—no, he was stupid enough to know it existed!

...... But Lydia may have seen it...... Would she be willing to tell him?

“...... Then go for it. ”

As he drifted into an increasingly chaotic state of mind, Iss said.

.

They ran into unexpected obstacles.

Not the tightest guards of loyal knights, nor some subtle and powerful magical defense, but the most ordinary people.

Hunter, farmer, merchant...... The old man with a gaunt figure, the baby crying in his mother's arms, the devout devotees of Nesses filled the already enlarged square in front of the temple, pouring into the hall very slowly, and pouring out from both sides of the gate very slowly.

The light that pierced the sky that night was probably some kind of signal to the believers. I just don't know what the light from Balach last night looks like to them...... Did God's grace also come to Balach?

In any case, even if they could squeeze into the temple, they would probably not be able to get close to the altar. Ed remembered that the door to the altar was facing the hall...... I wonder if I can find a chance at night?

He crouched on the ground, frowning at the crowd in the distance. Beside him, Iss looked back absent-mindedly and frequently.

“...... Is?"

Ed spoke confusedly.

Isis turned to him, but he didn't look at him. His pupils constricted into lines, and the bright light blue of the sunlight clouded him.

“...... It's here. He said.

- This scene is familiar.

Ed's heart fell heavily, and a sense of foreboding rose instantly, but before he could stop Is, he jumped off the edge of the platform.

He opened his mouth in vain, almost wanting to cry. As he left, he told Alan where they were going, and repeatedly assured them that they would be careful...... But accidents always come so suddenly, what can he do?

He poked his head out in resignation, wondering how he could keep up with his friend, who was quicker than the elves, but Iss popped up and pulled him down without saying a word.

The place where they were located was almost the highest point of the Arctic Light, the Temple of the Sun God. Iss casually carried Ed on his shoulders and jumped down as fast as he could. Although it didn't break the blood flow by hitting his head, the scene dangling in front of him still made Ed's eyes dazzled, and he was finally shaken out a little resentment by his inconsiderate friend:

"You ......"

"It's here. Iss interrupted him, his voice lowered with anger...... and haste.

Ed silently swallowed back his grumbling.

Eth eventually led him to a huge stone hall on the ground floor in the center of the city—huge, austere, but immensely solid.

It used to be a warehouse, but now the gate is gone, and the entrance to the cave is dark, revealing the chill of the forest, and the sound of footsteps echoes in the open space, which is inexplicably frightening.

They didn't try to hide it—they should have found them. And is the one hiding in the depths of darkness waiting for Isis to appear?

A vague white shadow loomed in his vision. Ed's fingers moved slightly, and a little light lit up like a star, illuminating the giant beast crouching in the darkness.

It was an ice dragon, larger than Is, with a faint reflection on its scales, and even when they stood in front of it, they seemed to be unconscious, motionless.

But in the silence there was a dull whisper, one after another.

“...... It's alive. ”

Isis spoke blankly, his tail note trembling and dissipating into the air.

.